Miliana: Algeria’s Timeless Jewel Secures Its Place in the Arab Heritage Register
✍️ BY: Dr. Hana Saada
Algiers, Algeria | Algeria has added yet another laurel to its long-standing commitment to preserving collective memory and cultural identity. The ancient city of Miliana, perched on the foothills of the Blidean Atlas, has been officially inscribed into the Arab Register of Architectural and Urban Heritage under the auspices of the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO). The landmark recognition was announced during the 10th Regional Meeting of the Arab Observatory for Architectural and Urban Heritage, held in Beirut from July 28–30, 2025, with the participation of leading experts and delegates from across the Arab world.
A Living Chronicle of Civilizations
Miliana is not just a city; it is a palimpsest of history layered across centuries. Founded during the Roman era under the name Zucchabar, it later flourished in the Islamic period as a beacon of learning, resistance, and spirituality. Its winding alleys, age-old gardens, and protective walls echo with stories of resilience and identity. The city is also known as the host city of Emir Abdelkader, Algeria’s legendary resistance leader, whose spirit of defiance against colonialism still permeates its streets.
Miliana has given birth to a constellation of Algeria’s finest martyrs whose sacrifice shaped the destiny of the nation. Figures such as Mohamed Bouras, the emblematic scout leader executed in 1941, Si Allal ben Abdelkader, among the earliest to defy colonial domination, and Colonel Boudjelal Abdelkader, stand as enduring symbols of defiance and honor. The city’s memory also intertwines with the legacy of Si Salah (Mohamed Zamoum), whose leadership within the Wilaya IV maquis marked decisive phases of the liberation struggle. Through their courage and martyrdom, these sons of Miliana transformed their hometown into a living fortress of dignity, anchoring it in Algeria’s collective memory as a city of sacrifice and unwavering loyalty to the homeland.
Nestled amidst verdant orchards and overlooking sweeping plains, Miliana has long been revered as one of Algeria’s cultural jewels—a city where architecture, memory, and nature converge in harmony. Its mosques, zawiyas, and traditional houses stand as guardians of a civilization that has withstood conquest, colonization, and modern pressures, yet never lost its authenticity.
Recognition that Reinforces Identity
The inclusion of Miliana in ALECSO’s heritage register is more than symbolic; it is a resounding acknowledgment of Algeria’s unwavering dedication to safeguarding its civilizational patrimony. This milestone elevates Miliana to a new level of visibility, presenting it not only as a national treasure but as a pan-Arab cultural reference point. For Algeria, it is both a recognition of past struggles to protect heritage and a call to continue investing in preservation for future generations.
From Memory to Modern Renaissance
This achievement opens the door to comprehensive restoration projects aimed at rehabilitating Miliana’s historic landmarks, revitalizing its public spaces, and transforming it into a vibrant cultural and touristic hub. With its proximity to Algiers and Blida, the city is poised to attract visitors eager to immerse themselves in Algeria’s layered history and its living traditions of music, crafts, and culinary arts.
Miliana’s annual festivals, particularly those celebrating Andalusian music and local craftsmanship, further enrich its identity and provide a bridge between heritage and modern cultural expression. By aligning heritage preservation with sustainable tourism, Miliana can emerge as a beacon of Algerian soft power—a city that embodies both memory and modernity.
A Timeless Verdict of History
In the final analysis, the recognition of Miliana is not a mere accolade but a reaffirmation: civilizations endure through memory, resistance, and pride in identity. By enshrining Miliana in the Arab Heritage Register, Algeria has ensured that this jewel of the Blidean Atlas will continue to shine, not only for Algerians but for the Arab world and beyond.
Miliana’s story is Algeria’s story—a testament to resilience, cultural wealth, and an unbroken bond with the past that continues to illuminate the path toward the future.
📡🌍 | About Dzair Tube Media Group | 🌍📡
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
📰 Dzair Tube is a trailblazer in Algerian digital journalism, delivering high-quality content in Arabic, French, and English. With more than 📈 500,000 daily clicks, it ranks among the most influential media platforms in the country.
🏆 Awarded the President of the Republic’s Prize for Professional Journalist in the Electronic Press category (🗓 October 22, 2022), Dzair Tube is widely recognized for its editorial excellence and integrity.
📱 Massive Digital Reach:
🔴 350,000+ YouTube subscribers
🔵 6 million+ followers across Facebook pages
📸 450,000+ Instagram followers
🎥 Operating from state-of-the-art studios, Dzair Tube broadcasts rich and diverse programming, including:
🗞 News | ⚽ Sports | 🎭 Entertainment | 🕌 Religion | 🎨 Culture
🗣️ Featuring interactive talk shows and exclusive interviews with prominent figures from politics, business, arts, and more, Dzair Tube serves as a key platform for public discourse and civic engagement.
📰 Its print sports daily, “Dzair Sport,” enjoys over 50,000 daily downloads via the official website—further cementing the platform’s multimedia leadership.
🎖️ Honored with the Media Leadership Award by the former Minister of Communication, Mohamed Laâgab, and celebrated at the Hilals of the Television awards, Dzair Tube continues to lead with innovation, influence, and impact.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
🌐 Stay Connected:
🔗 Website: www.dzair-tube.dz
🔗 English: www.dzair-tube.dz/en
📲 Follow us on Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
